The Datta Naik family…. daughter Devika, son Chirag and wife Sushanta

By Rajan Narayan

MY first interface with Datta Damodar Naik was in 2002, when he addressed a public gathering at the Kesarwal Motel in Verna. The title of a talk was Fahrenheit 300 — the temperature at which paper burns. The highly provocative title referred to the creeping influence of the Hindutva ideology in Goa. Manohar Parrikar had secured a majority and formed the first BJP majority government in Goa.
Like all left liberals Datta Naik was agitated. In a very spirited talk he spoke about the saffron agenda of dividing a secular Goa along communal lines. The talk by Datta Naik marked the beginning of the fall of the BJP government in the state. Datta Naik was one of the few businessman who had the courage of his convictions. Datta was the first businessman with a literary bent of mind and well-read in world literature and history, who was willing to confront the Manohar Parrikar government.
This, despite the fact that as a businessman Datta Naik — he was in mainstream real estate business among other things) — was very vulnerable to retaliation by the government. However, Datta belongs to a very small group of conscious and conscientious businessmen activities.
Datta dared to walk the talk. In the run-up to the 2007 assembly elections, Datta Naik actively campaigned against Manohar Parrikar and the BJP. He prepared and produced an eight-page supplement listing all the sins of omission and commission of the BJP government of Manohar Parrikar. Datta Naik made a strong appeal to the people of Goa to vote and defeat Manohar Parrikar.
Since the Goan Observer which I was editing at that time in print (and still do online) was the only opposition, we had the privilege of producing the eight-page supplement in Konkani. The supplement printed into two lakh copies and these were widely distributed in all parts of Goa. I would like to believe that this had a major impact as the BJP was defeated in the 2007 assembly election. This was the election that saw the Congress returned to power with Digambar Kamat as the chief minister.

CLOSE CONFIDANT DIGAMBAR
BEHIND the scenes Datta Naik played an important role in persuading Digambar Kamat to quit the BJP and join the Congress. Digambar was a close confidant of Manohar Parrikar and was the power minister in Parrikar’s first cabinet. When a group of BJP MLAs were threatening to defect they were sent to Rajasthan on the eve of a no-confidence vote. Digambar Kamat was entrusted with the responsibility of keeping the flock together.
However, Digambar who was disillusioned Manohar Parrikar by now quietly returned to Goa, leaving the BJP MLAs behind. Digambar was approached by the All India Congress General Secretary Margaret Alva to quit the BJP and join the Congress. I came to learn about the planned move of Digambar Kamat on the night that the flight was to take place because my better three-quarters and I were in Margao at the then residence of MPT chairman Aravind Bhatikar. We were joined by Avdhoot Timblo, chairman of the Fomento Group, who was close to Digambar Kamat. Parrikar came to know that Digambar was planning to leave the BJP.
So Parrikar suddenly landed at the Margao residence of Digambar Kamat. Parrikar tried his best to persuade Digambar not to quit. Digambar was adamant and wouldn’t change his mind. Shortly after Parrikar left the residence of Digambar Kamat, he went in a cavalcade of cars to the Ramada Beach resort where Margaret Alva was waiting for him. Digambar was accompanied by Datta Naik and Avdhoot Timblo. At the Ramada resort, Digambar formally joined the Congress party. This was a fatal blow to the BJP.
Not surprisingly the BJP lost the confidence vote on the floor of the legislative assembly of Goa. Briefly, Pratapsingh Raoji Rane took over as chief minister of Goa. Since the government was not stable President’s Rule was declared. At the end of President’s Rule in 2007 when elections were declared the Congress secured a majority and Digambar Kamat was the chief minister of Goa.

VINDICTIVE PARRIKAR
AFTERWARDS Datta Naik was harassed by the vindictive Manohar Parrikar. Parrikar took the decision to demolish the slum in Baina claiming that it was a shameful red light district for prostitution in Vasco da Gama port city. Admittedly Baina was a red-light district but every port town in the world has a red-light district for the benefit of sailors. The humanitarian Datta Naik along with some activists went to Baina to protest against the demolition of the slums. Datta and his fellow activists which included the late Shridhar Kamat, and Dilip Prabhudesai, among others, were arrested. They were moved from one police lockup to another and kept in custody overnight.
However, there was a huge hue and cry in Margao and Goa and Datta and the other activist believed that their arrest was unwarranted, illegal, they refused to take bail. I recall visiting Datta Naik and the other activists in the police lockup. The next day Datta was persuaded to apply for bail and was released along with the other activists.
However, the harassment did not stop at that. There were raids at the Mongini’s factory at Verna which manufactured bread and confectionary. The charge was that the Mongini’s bread and goods were substandard. The raids were organized by the Food & Drugs Administration. There was no truth to the charge as the bread and other goodies were baked to the highest hygienic standards.
Among the others who were targeted by Manohar Parrikar was the Margao-based eminent and much loved cardiologist Dr Francisco Colaco. Dr Colaco, who was part of the Saturday Night Club of local business community friends, saw his clinic being raided. It was depressing news all round and time for losses.
Which brings me to the Saturday Night Club. Every Saturday evening a group of intellectuals and activists from south Goa used to gather at the Margao Cricket Club premises. What they all had in common was they were all ardent lovers of Goa’s mother tongue, Konkani, and they were all liberals opposed to the hardcore Hindutva ideology. The members roll-call included Datta Naik, Dr Franciso Colaco, advocate Cleofate Coutinho, engineer Shridhar Kamat, Dilip Prabhudesai, also influential speaker Prashant Naik and several others. This was no armchair loving group but one which actively participated in literary meets as well as political protests. The club members promoted the cause of secularism and the unique way of Goan life, its art, literature and culture. This was the support group of Datta Naik. There were conferences and talks late into the night when both local and national issues were debated in a spirit of harmony. No doubt lubricated by a bottle or two of fine liquor or packs of beer. I’ve had the privilege of being invited to participate in the debates of the Saturday Night Club of Margao.

TRUE SOCIALIST
DATTA is a true socialist. He built up his construction company through ups and downs – Commonwealth Developers is the most trusted real estate brand down south Goa. Datta Damodar Naik is that rare ethical real estate promoter who is trusted both by land owners and clients. Commonwealth Developers has a very impressive record of quality constructions and on-time delivery of flats.
I know for a long time Datta used to drive around in a Maruti car as he thought driving luxury monster cars was vulgar. He is also a philanthropist supporting several literary and social causes. Among the most important is the Gomantak Vidya Niketan, Margao which is a public hall and it has an excellent library open to all. Datta is also associated with leading educational institutions in Margao.
Datta is a very lively personality with loads of intellectual curiosity. He reads widely and has also authored many books on his interests, he has a huge personal library in his ancestral house in Margao. He is a prolific writer in Konkani and many of his books are in Konkani and some translated into English perhaps. A knowledgeable bon vivant Datta shares his knowledge with others. I recall him addressing a public meeting for the famous German sociologist Erich Fromm at the Menezes Braganza Hall in Panjim. Datta is a strong rationalist. He has consistently fought against superstitions all his life. As recently as in January 2025 he was arrested for referring to temple priests as looters.
I must also pay a warm tribute to Sushanta, Datta Naik’s better three- quarters. Sushanta, who is from the Karapurkar family of Panaji, has been his companion through thick and thin. She stands by him even in the face of backlash sometimes from relatives and GSB community members about Datta’s atheist beliefs.
An added note in conclusion, Datta Damodar Naik is closely associated with the Konkani Bhasha Mandal to which he donated Rs1 crore, recently. He is an iconic citizen who believes in upholding the secular character of Amche Goye. I wish him all the best with many more birthdays to come as his family and many friends celebrate his 70th birthday on March 8, 2025 (his actual birthday being on December 30).